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2 Sheets8heet 1.

0. H. NEEDHAM. SOUND BOARD FOR MUSICALINSTRUMENTS;

(No Model.)

Patented Mar.27,188 3.

mmmm 7 Av W W N, PETERS. Phmu-Limo n hur, Washingkun, D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. H. NEEDHAM.

SOUND BOARD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Mar.27, 1883.

Wbzasses N. PETERS Plwblilhognpher. Wmhingmn. Dv c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ORWELL H. NEEDHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELIAS P. NEED HAM AND CHARLES A. NEEDHAM, OF SAME PLACE.

SOUND-BOARD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,813, dated March 27, 1883.

Application filed July 14,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, ORWELL H. NEEDHAM, ot' the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a certain 5 new and usefullmprovement in Sound-Boards for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to pianos and organs; butit may be embodied in other musical instruments; and the object of my invention is to amplify and augment the soundwaves issuing from such instruments, and thus increase their power.

The invention consists in the combination,

: in a musical instrument, with a solid soundboard, of two or more hollow sound-boards made separate therefrom, and provided with openings or passages through which they communicate with each other, and each having a bearing on said solid sound-board independently of and within the lines of the supports of said solid sound-board. The said hollow sound-boards preferably all communicate with a trunk or channel extending transversely to 2 r them, and through which they all communicate with each other.

The invention also consists in the combination, with two or more hollow sound-boards, of devices for applying tension to each of said 0 sound-boards separately to slightly elongate or contract it, whereby provision is afforded for keeping them all at a uniform pitch.

The invention also consists in the combination of two or more hollow sound-boards pro- 5 vided with openings or passages through which they communicate with each other, and also provided with smalleropenings through which they each communicate with the atmosphere.

The invention also consists in the combina tion, in a musical instrument, of a solid soundboard, two or more hollow sound-boards, each having a-bearing on said solid sound-board, and provided with openings or passages through which they communicate with each 4 5 other, and with smaller openings through which each hollow sound-board communicates with the atmosphere, and devices for elongating or contracting each hollow sound-board to adapt them for producing sound-waves of uniform pitch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a solid sound-board, three hollow sound-boards combined therewith according to my invention, and a supporting-frame. Fig. 2represents an inverted plan thereof. Fig. 3 represents a sec tional elevation on the dotted line 00 as, Fig. l. Fig. 4 represents a plan of three hollow soundboards of a modified form, the solid soundboard being omitted; and Fig. 5 represents a section upon the dotted line 3 1 Fig. 4, including the solid sound-board.

Similar letters of reference (.lesignate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates a solid sound-board such as is usually employed in a piano, organ, or other musical instrument, and which is provided with ribs to upon the under side.

B designates a frame which supports the solid sound-board A, and which maybe ofany form suitable for the instrument wherein it is to be used.

0 designates hollow sound-boards, which are here shown as three in number; but one, two, or more than three sound-boards may be employed, and it two or more are used they may be considered as forming a multiple soundboard of which each board is a section.

D designates a trunk or channel secured to the under side of and transversely to the sound-boards O, and this trunk is represented as secured to the frame B, so as to support all the hollow sound-boards. The trunk or channel forms a passage extent'ling across all the hollow sound-boards, and communicating with each sound-board by means of an opening, 1),- hence it will be seen that through this passage and the opening I) each sound-board G is in communication with all the others, so that sound-waves may flow from one to the other. In each hollow sound-board, in this instance in its bottom, is an opening, 0, through which it communicates with the atmosphere, and it IOC.

der side thereof, independently of and within the lines of the supports of said solid soundboard. 7

hi the example of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 each sound-board has a pin, (I, screwed into a hub or boss, 0, thereon, so that it may be readily adjusted to project more or less from the hollow sound-board, and by adjusting these pins they may all be made to press against the solid sound-board with equal pressure and maintained in such positions.

In the example of my invention shown in Figs. 4. and 5 each of the pins d is screwed into an arm,f, near one end, while the arm is attached at its other end to the sound-board, a block or piece, g, being interposed between the board and arm to raise the latter-out of direct contact with the sound-board, so that the end ofthe arm to which the pin dis attached will be free to vibrate.

The armfof the middle one of the three sound-boards extends parallel therewith; but the arms of the two outer sound-boards converge, as shown in Fig. at.

In order to place the sound-boards 0 under tension, so as to keep them all at a uniform pitch, I provide means for slightly elongating or contracting them separately. The means here shown for the purpose consists of rods h, one of which extends longitudinally through each sound-board. Each ot'these rodsis screwthreaded at one end and engages with a nut, i, in one end of the sound-board, and the other end of the rod is held against longitudinal movement by a collar, j, on the rod bearing against the inner side of the sound-board, and a head, It, hearing against the outside of the sound-board. The rod maybe turned by means of the head 7., and the soundboard is slightly elongated or contracted, according to whether the rod is turned in one direction or the other. The rods It may be adjusted from time to time, as may be necessary, to keep the sound-boards in uniform pitch.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination,in a musical instrument, with a solid sound-board, of two or more hollow sound-boards made separate therefrom, provided with openings or passages through which they communicate with each other, and each having a bearing upon the said solid sound-board independently of and within the lines of the supports of said solid sound-board, substantially as specified.

2. The combination,in a musical instrument, with a solid sound-board, of two or more hollow soundboards, each having a bearing on said solid sound-board, and a trunk or channel arranged transversely to the hollow soundboards,with which they all communicate, and through which they communicate with each other, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in a musical instrument, of two or more hollow sound-boards, and devices for applying tension to each ot'said soundboards to slightly elongate or contract them, whereby provision is afforded for making them all of uniform pitch, substantially as specified.

t. The combination, in a musical instrument, of two or more hollow sound-boards provided with openings or passages through which they communicate with each other, and also provided with smaller openings through which they each communicate with the atmosphere, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, in a musical instrument, of a solid sound-board, two or more hollow sound-boards, each having a bearing on the solid sound-board, and provided with openings or passages through which they communicate with each other, and with smaller openings through which each hollow sound-board communicates with the atmosphere, and devices for elongating or contracting each hollow soundboard to adapt them for producing sound-waves of uniform pitch, substantially as specified.

O. H. NEEDHAM. 

